Jesus V. Juario

On the induced spawning and larval rearing of milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forskal)☆

Abstract A female milkfish, captured at sea, was injected with two hormonal injections of acetone-dried salmon pituitary powder and human chorionic gonadotropin, plus Vitamin B complex. It was stripped, and produced 128,000 ripe eggs with an average diameter of 1.15 mm. Fertilization rate was 38% following artificial fertilization with milt from an uninjected male. A total of 36,000 larvae hatched (74% of fertile eggs) after 26–32 h at 34 ‰ salinity and 27–32°C. The newly hatched larvae measured 3.4 mm in mean total length and possessed a large yolk sac. The mouth of the larvae opened about 54 h after hatching. The larvae were fed with fertilized oyster eggs, rotifers, copepods, brine shrimp, flour and prepared feed, together with Chlorella. A critical period was between the 4th and 6th days with mortality over 80%. The larvae started increasing in length by Day 8, and had the appearance of the wild fry by Day 11. On Day 13 a pigmentation pattern developed and the biggest larva measured 10.0 mm. By Day 18 the larvae measured 12.5 mm, and 14.5 mm by Day 21. A total of 2,859 fry was obtained; the highest larval survival rate obtained from different experimental groups was 46.8%.

Yolk and oil globule utilization and developmental morphology of the digestive tract epithelium in larval rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus (Bloch)

Abstract The purpose of this study was to find out how yolk and oil globule absorption in Siganus guttatus proceed as the digestive tract develops, in order to determine the probable causes of early larval mortality. Yolk and oil globule absorption in the rabbitfish were compared with the same processes in the more sturdy seaperch larvae during the first 10 days of larval life under identical rearing conditions in 32‰ sea water at 27°–30°C. The rapid decline of yolk in both species coincided with the rapid development of the digestive system within 24 h from hatching, indicating that most of the yolk was used for organogenesis. Whereas yolk was depleted in both fish in 3 days, the oil globule persisted in the rabbitfish only for 4 days and in the seaperch for 7 days. Oil globule depletion in the rabbitfish coincided with a negative mean length increment, implying an energy deficit even when the larvae had already started to feed. Ultrastructural observations of the gut epithelia of the rabbitfish revealed pinocytosis in the hindgut cells immediately after ingestion of rotifers, well in advance of complete yolk and oil globule absorption. Therefore, starvation due to exhaustion of the endogenous energy reserves in addition to the physical inability to feed were ruled out as major causes of larval mortality in rabbitfish.

Breeding and larval rearing of the rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus (Bloch)

Abstract Females of Siganus guttatus reared to sexual maturity in canvas tanks were induced to spawn by using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG, Ayerst) at 500 IU/fish or about 2 IU/g body weight. The amount of HCG used depended on the initial mean egg diameter; the smaller the diameter, the more HCG was used. Fish with oocytes characterized by germinal vesicle migration (mean egg diameter ≥ 0.47 mm) spawned without HCG injection. Fertilization and hatching rates for both treated and untreated fish were more than 90%. The larvae were reared to metamorphosis using rotifers from day 2–17, rotifers + newly hatched Artemia nauplii from day 18–20 and rotifers + newly hatched Artemia nauplii + artificial feed from day 21–35. In addition, Isochrysis galbana was introduced to the rearing tanks from day 1–10 and Chlorella sp. and/or Tetraselmis sp. from day 1–35. Survival rates of larvae tended to be lower as the broodstock became older.

Induced spawning of sea bass, Lates calcarifer, and rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus, after implantation of pelleted LHRH analogue

Abstract Captive Lates calcarifer broodstock at Tigbauan, Iloilo (Philippines) were implanted with cholesterol-based pellets of the LHRH analogue D-Trp6-desGly10-LHRH ethylamide or D-hArg(Et2)6,Pro9-NHet-LHRH at doses between 9.0 and 23.5 μg/kg body weight. In May, one of ten LHRH-treated females released partially hydrated ova into the tank 4 days after implantation. In July, at least one (and probably four) of five LHRH-treated females spawned in the tank 2 days after implantation; 2.6 million hatchlings were collected. In August, both LHRH-treated females spawned in the tank 2 days after implantation; 978 000 hatchlings were collected. None of the sham-operated control fish spawned in any of the experiments. Captive Siganus guttatus broodstock implanted with silastic-based pellets of the LHRH analogue D-Nal (2)6 LHRH spawned 1–2 days earlier than sham-operated controls.

Induced breeding and larval rearing experiments with milkfish Chanos chanos (Forskal) in the Philippines

Abstract Salmon pituitary homogenate was used alone or in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin, to induce spawing in captive and wild adult milkfish at ambient temperature (26–30°C) and salinity of 34%.. Healthy or slightly injured females having oocytes with a minimum mean diameter of 0.66 mm could be induced to spawn in captivity using a total dose of 20 mg SPH/kg + 3000 IU HCG/kg given in two injections. Badly injured females did not respond readily to the hormone and required more than two injections to induce ovulation. Milkfish larvae were reared successfully to metamorphosis using only Chlorella -fed rotifers during the first 10 days. Survival rates were greatly improved when, aside from Chlorella and Chlorella -fed rotifers, Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis chuii were added to the rearing tanks.

Effect of thyroxine on growth and development in post-yolk-sac larvae of milkfish, Chanos chanos

Abstract Post-yolk-sac larvae of milkfish, Chanos chanos (commonly referred to as “fry”) were collected along the shore in the Philippines. Treatment of these long, slender and transparent larvae with L-thyroxine-sodium (Eltroxin, Glaxo) by immersion in 0.5 ppm solution (changed daily) markedly accelerated their growth and development. By day 15 of the treatment, the treated larvae had become silvery, opaque and adult-like in form, whereas the control larvae were still slender and transparent (or at best translucent) with incomplete silvering of the body. 0.1 ppm thyroxine was less effective. Discontinuation of the treatment after 8 days was also less effective as judged by the appearance and weight of the larvae on day 15.

Observations on artificial fertilization of eggs and the embryonic and larval development of milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forskal)☆

Abstract Hydrated eggs obtained from a female milkfish, Chanos chanos, were artificially fertilized with the milt collected from a male injected with acetone-dried pituitaries of salmon. The fertilized eggs (1.1–1.25 mm in diameter) developed normally in seawater in basins and petri dishes at a salinity of 30–34‰, and successfully hatched in 25–28.5 hours at a temperature of 26.4–29.9°C. The yolk was completely absorbed in about 2.5 days and during this period many postlarvae died. A few larvae were reared up to 5 days but all died on the 6th day. Attempts were made to feed the postlarvae with freshly hatched trochophore larvae of oysters obtained from eggs artificially fertilized in the laboratory.

Early effects of nutritional stress on the liver of milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forsskal), and on the hepatopancreas of the tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius).

Abstract After periods of food deprivation and subsequent feeding, hepatocytes of Chanos chanos fry and R-cells of Penaeus monodon juveniles were investigated by means of transmission electron microscope. They clearly reflect the quality of different diets and thus can be used as monitor cells. For purposes of comparison, the same diets were offered to land-dwelling isopods which are known to accept a variety of different diets. Thus, this technique could also be used as a method of determining the effectiveness of binders in artificial diets.

Effect of different diets on the ultrastructure of hepatocytes of Chanos chanos fry (Chanidae: Teleostei): An electron microscopic and morphometric analysis

The hepatocytes of milkfish fry offered different artificial diets (carbohydrate-, lipid-, protein-oriented) and live food (Artemia spp., Brachionus plicatilis) differ considerably both qualitatively and quantitatively as was shown by means of transmission electron microscopy and planimeter. Food deprivation, too, resulted in ultrastructural alterations of milkfish fry hepatocytes. Thus, this cell type might be used as an indicator of quality and quantity of food in teleosts.

The effect of Brachionus plicatilis grown on three different species of phytoplankton on the ultrastructure of the hepatocytes of Chanos chanos (Forskål) fry

Abstract The effect of the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis , grown on unialgal cultures of Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmis sp. and Chlorella sp. on the hepatocytes of milkfish fry was evaluated by electron microscopy. Rotifers grown on the three different species of phytoplankton brought about different ultrastructural features in milkfish fry hepatocytes. Best results were obtained from fry reared on Isochrysis -fed rotifers. The use of marine Chlorella -fed rotifers as feed for fry resulted in the poorest hepatocyte ultrastructure, indicating that this was nutritionally the least adequate cultured food. None of the three diets, however, produced an optimal hepatocyte ultrastructure similar to that obtained by feeding the fry with a mixture of artificial feed and newly hatched Artemia nauplii.